Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1885. A REPRIEVE FROM WAR.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 76, 1 April 1885, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1885. A REPRIEVE FROM WAR.

TnE latest intelligence from Europe is, if not exactly of a more pacific character, still, as the Agent-General puts it, "less ominous." In other words, there appears to be a probability of a respite being granted before war actually breaks out. This is indeed good news to tho colonies. It will afford them tho time they so much require to attain a position of effective defence A delay of a few months will, if they make the most of the opportunity, enable them to so provide for defence as to rest secure almost from even the probability of being attacked. It is not ironclad or heavily armed vessels which are ever likely, in our time at least, to make a raid upon tho colonies. The attack, if ever made, will be by light, swift cruisers, carrying a sufficient armament to render them exceedingly disagreeable visitors to undefended ports, and awkward customers for unarmed vessels to meet at sea, but not of a class to attack or run the gauntlet of permanent and heavily armed fortifications. The very best possible guarantee against our ever receiving a hostile visi£ is our being prepared to receive suoh a visitor iv a suitable manner if he should come. This can, if proper energy is displayed, be provided for in a very few months, and if that period of peace is extended to us, we sincerely hope that it ¦will be used to the bost advantage. So far from relaxing its offorts in the way of defence because tho prospect of war is not quite so immediate as it was, tho fact should incite our Government to fresh exertions. A great deal can be done before war is declared, which it may become impossible to do after that event has taken place. Military stores, arms, and munitions will be more readily procurable, and can be much more easily transported. War has been within the last week sufficiently near to show the imminence of the danger to which its occurrence must expose us in our present condition, and to prove that we have been living in a state of false security. We should bo sorry to think that tho steps recently taken, tho works just begun, should be now with* drawn, from 'or abandoned. -»• Wo do not think they will be. The Government is not likely to admit that its vigorous action was but tho result of sudden panic, rather than of well-considered and matured plans for the execution of works essential to tho safety of tho colony. The delay, if it is accorded and taken proper advantage of, will be a boon and a blessing to the colony. Although the outbreak of war with Kussia may be delayed, we do not think that any permanent peaceful settlement of the questions at issue is possible. It may not suit Kussia to plunge into immediate hostilities. She may nave only been trying how far England would let her go without making her advances on tho Afghan frontier a casus belli. Probably Russia has found England more firm than was expected, and may therefore be willing to gain a little more time by pretending to renew the negotiations about a frontier commission, while in the meanwhile she is preparing for a decisive advance and its inevitable consequences. That she is sincere in any professions of willingness to leave this question of frontier to tho decision of any Commission, we do not for a moment believe. Had she been so, the Russian Commissioners would long ago have mot Sir Petee Ltoisden according to agreement. The proposal is now only revived to gajn time ; and even if tho Commission met and ageeed to a report, we do not in the least beljsye Bussia would respect the agreod-on frontier 0 moment after she felt strong enough to accept the consequences of disregarding it. The English .Government will act foolishly and weakly if they gtea way an iota in the domands they have made. To resume negotiations now, leaving the Russian, froops in the positions they haye audaciously apd Unjustifiably advanced to> would be exaotly to play Russia's game for her. The retirement of the Jrqopii should be firmly insisted on as a condition of any dejay or renewal of negotiations. No doubt parleying wijl go on for a time. Neither party is quite ready for war, and unices eyents are precipitated by accident, sufficient ftrap to enable the oolonie.n to complete necessary defences may be afforded. We hope the event will prove so, and that the providential opportunity afforded them will be used to .the very best advantage, and the work ojf defence be vigorously prosecuted. We should iniprQyp each shining hour of peace before the war storm bursts upon us.